My novel Age of Dreams is still free on Amazon US.
And please leave a review on Amazon after your read it.
Thanks so much!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Author Interview - Ursula Bauer
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I write romantic fiction with suspense, paranormal and mystery elements. I love cooking, eating, causing trouble, football, writing, reading and playing games. I’m a serious original geek, and I’ve plyed the trades of a soldier, fortune teller, and Realtor, in addition to being a Registered Nurse and an author. I once climbed a five story building in Manhattan with a friend years ago on a dare, and locked a Drill Sergeant in a porto-potty as a joke in basic training. I make espresso in a moka pot the old fashioned way, get a monthly order of a strong china black tea called Golden Monkey, and recently conducted a test-kitchen experiment in making different Apple Strudels with my grandfather when he came to stay for the holidays. I’m always up for an adventure and rarely am I ever considered the voice of reason.
What is your book about?
A Haunting Affair is a contemporary mystery romance with paranormal elements, set in the Adirondack mountains.Ex-cop Sam Tyler's death bed promise to solve the cold case murder of his friend's wife has him working hand in hand with sexy Emma Bishop, a psychic with a shady past. Neither expects the case to go hot, or passion to reach flash point between them. With a killer drawing a target on them, and vengeful spirits gathering to make the living pay for past sins, love and truth will be put to the ultimate test
How long did it take you to write?
I wrote it over the space of a year, taking a few breaks in between. It was a change, as my first two books took about three months each to write, once I had the outlines in place.
What inspired you to write this novel?
The Adirondacks sparked my imagination. I vacation frequently at Lake Placid and there are a fair number of unusual and unsolved cases ‘up in them thar hills’. We were on a boat tour of the actual lake and the guide told the story of a very wealthy unmarried heiress, the last of her line, who vanished mysteriously and was later discovered at the bottom of the lake, with chains wrapped round her body. The death was ruled a suicide. The police declared she’d rowed herself to far point of the lake where a deep basin exists, donned the chains and jumped in to die. Its fantastic, especially since at the time of her death she had a broken arm (or shoulder, I forget which), and would have had difficulty getting dressed, let alone rowing out to that desolate spot and garbing up in heavy metal. There is great wealth, remote locations, old families and older secrets, all tucked away in the High Peaks region, that it got my mind going. At the same time I’d been reading up on mediums, and between the peculiar power of the mountains, that, and my fascination with the way old crimes often refuse to go away, the story came to life.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
Third grade. We were supposed to write a story about thanksgiving. Mine was about a space faring turkey named Gobble (original, right?). He came down and liberated the other turkeys. I had illustrated it as well, including a picture of a large axe, and frantic turkeys running wild in the margins. I may have decided earlier than that, but it all crystallized with that story. If I’d done something like that now, I probably would have been kicked out of school. Instead, my creativity was encourages. Interesting days, those.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
Byzantine plotting is my danger zone. I’m an old game geek and used to be the game/dungeon master, and former spy novel addict, so I like a lot of things going into the brew to keep everyone guessing. It works, I get great feedback on keeping pacing tight, and keeping people guessing, however, to get to that point I have to really scale back in the prep work for the book. I was reading Agatha Christie’s biography recently. Early on she’d received instruction from a neighbor and infamous author at the time, and she remarked upon how solid the advice had been, particularly a comment about plot. He’d told her she was cramming too much plot into things (this was prior to her first book, she was an early teen I believe). Too much plot often required too much wording or book to tell the story, and you’d lose the reader if you didn’t have the skill to really pull it off. Plus, why waste all that plot on one book. Brilliant.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
I wasn’t certain how much I could commit to someone else’s time line or schedule on this book. My first two went through Samhain publishing, and there were all manner of deadlines and commitments. My life is fairly busy, and several things were going on that I wanted to make sure had the necessary attention. I knew I wouldn’t be able to promise anything, nor did I feel like I wanted to be on the clock. I was also starting to convert my lifestyle to an island time, or la dolce vita (the sweet life), focus. I wanted to be able to stop, smell roses when I wanted, wander a bit, and relax into a different lifestyle. Self-publishing put me on no one’s timeline but my own, and allowed me the space I felt I needed.
Did you have a professional editor?
Yes, Anne LaFarge. I also had a beta reader, and belong to a crit group of multi-published authors who are brutal.
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I outline, write (a few scenes or chapters), submit to crit, get feedback, revise a bit, but keep pushing forward until the book is done. Then I tighten up, have a beta reader review, and after that, on to editors.
Are you currently working on any projects?
I’m working on the follow up book to A Haunting Affair, set in the same town. Jake Meyer, the sheriff from the first book, (and the most tragic and eligible bachelor in town), is the hero. I’m also working on a short story for release in January. It’s a light paranormal mystery featuring a medium, a ghost hunter, a mansion and a murder. The medium is Emma’s boss from A Haunting Affair, and the story takes place in my adopted home town of Troy, New York.
Any advice for new authors?
Write. Write. Write some more. In between all of that writing, go do weird things, explore the world (on line, outside your door, how ever works best), read, and feed your head. But no matter what, don’t stop writing. Don’t let market, or anyone’s negativity grind you down. Get out there and do your thing.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
I do a playlist for each book. I’m a huge rock and roll fan and old metal head, but I’m also a reformed musician so I enjoy a wide variety of sound. I mix it up, from metal to techno to 80’s new wave, punk, soul, blues, world beat, polka, it’s all fair game. Sometimes a song or a band will capture the ‘feeling’ of a book, or a character. So I might play that again and again until it’s inside of me, and I use that to inform character action. Once I’ve played a bunch of tunes, though, it’s not unusual for me to hit mid book and finish the rest without music. Once I’m wrapped up in the writing, I can’t pay attention to much else. It all fades away.
Best time of day to write?
Depends on the book. Lately mornings and afternoons work. Last two books were all night books. The short story likes the after the day job slot.
Top 3 authors?
Agatha Christie, Nora Roberts, Terry Pratchett
Top 3 novels of all time?
Just three? Wow, there are so many, and I discover more every day.
Born in Ice (Nora Roberts) – Fun, intense, something about it resonated with me and I can read it again and again. Plus, the hero leaves. Things are not easily resolved. People are jerks. Life gets messy. And yet, there is magic, and there is love. Sort of like life.
The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum) – It introduced me to the amnesia plot line, and the life within a life theme, which I love! Plus, it kept me guessing every step of the way. I read it when I was very young, and first allowed to take books from the adult section of the library.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) – Never underestimate the value of a good towel.
Top 3 movies of all time?
Star Wars IV – A New Hope, original, where Han shoots first. I saw that in the theater, and something changed in me forever.
Star Wars V – The Empire Strikes Back. Two words: Boba Fett. Man, that was a crazy flick!
The Bird Cage – Terminally funny, witty, crazy, absurd, intense. I can watch this over and over.
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
Probably sixty forty in favor of fiction.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
A Haunting Affair is currently digital only.
Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
http://www.facebook.com/
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Author Interview - Marie Symeou
As it's Christmas I thought it would be fun to answer my own interview questions to let you all know a little about me.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
Well, I was born and raised in London, and still live there. Hope to leave soon though, as it really isn't good for my health. I've loved reading all my life, and have always been passionate about music from an early age. I write novels, scripts, lyrics, soon to start a cat memoir, and I sing and write songs.
What is your book about?
FROZEN IN TIME is the story of an Ancient Greek vampire. It's set in the 4th century BC. Before he becomes a vampire, a man called Philip rescues the love of his life Amaranthea from her controlling father and marries her. But things don't turn out like he expected. After he loses her in childbirth he joins Alexander the Great's army (in my story, Alexander is Philip's half-brother). On the night before the battle of Issus. a heartbroken Philip meets a vampire in the guise of his dead wife. She tricks him into becoming a vampire, and he now finds himself trapped on the vampire's Island. He now must find a way to escape, and with the help of an immortal sorceress he must find the link to another world, a parallel world, a kind of faery realm which contains a secret ingredient which will help in destroying the most powerful vampire of all, his maker. Philip also begins searching for his wife.... reborn, but this doesn't turn out like he expected either. The novel is not simply about vampires though as it deals with deeper stuff like love and explores humanity, the afterlife, immortality and reincarnation.
How long did it take you to write?
About two years.
What inspired you to write this novel?
It's an idea I had many years ago, after being inspired by watching Interview With The Vampire. Also, I've always been interested in Ancient Greece and thought how great it would be to invent an ancient Greek vampire.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
When I was young I used to write my own magazines and little books. However, I was always interested in singing so pursued that for a while. But it was always in the back in my mind that I wanted to write novels one day.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
Description. I never know how much to put in. Personally, for me, when I'm reading a novel (mainly because I don't have the time to read as much as I'd like) I tend to skip long descriptive passages, so I can't help but believe that less is more.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
I'd had enough of rejections with my previous 2 novels so I thought I'd try it differently with this one. Also heard inspiring success stories from other indie authors, and yes, mainly reading about Amanda Hocking's success helped me decide that it was the right way to go at this moment in time. I just thought, why not? There is nothing wrong with self-publishing. Even great poets and writers like Percy Bysshe Shelley and many others are known to have self-published.
Did you have a professional editor?
I did have the first draft of Frozen looked at by a literary consultancy, but I did the final edits myself.
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
Sometimes I do both. It depends really.
Are you currently working on any projects?
The sequel to Frozen, a screenplay and a cat memoir.
Any advice for new authors?
Write what you want to read and what you are passionate about.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
Music is my passion and I can't exist without it. When writing I listen to movie soundtracks mostly, like the work of Hans Zimmer. Then there's my favourite band Nightwish, whose music is also inspired by movie soundtracks. Sometimes words distract me though, so I tend to listen to the instrumental versions of their albums. Their latest Imaginaerum is bound to inspire me with the writing of Book 2.
Best time of day to write?
Early morning and late afternoon.
Top 3 authors?
Anne Rice, Emily Bronte, Mary Shelley
Top 3 novels of all time?
Wuthering Heights, Dracula, Frankenstein
Top 3 movies of all time?
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Interview With The Vampire
The Omen (1976)
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
I enjoy both, but I tend to read more non-fiction these days. Mainly as research for my novels, but I also have a very inquisitive mind and love learning new things. I go through phases too, and right now I am obsessed with books about animal communication, and of course animal memoirs, mostly cat ones.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Both.
Where can your readers contact you?
New Cover and FREE!
Yes, ebook version of Frozen In Time now has a new cover. It's also free for 2 days.
Download now!
Friday, December 23, 2011
FREE GHOST STORY!
Here's a Christmas gift to my readers and followers.
You can download my short ghost story here SMASHWORDS
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Author Interview - Ruby Goodnight
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a 32 year old American, living and loving in the hills of England. I’m married to a lovely woman, and we have a 14 month old son. I work from home, writing content for web sites and ghost-writing for others when I’m not working on my own stories. I use Ruby Goodnight as a pen name, since my real one is much less exciting and not quite as Bond-worthy.
What is your book about?
My story is a spin of the classic Snow White story from our childhood, but in this case, rather than fleeing to a house of dwarves, she finds shelter in a fetish brothel. It’s not for those who don’t like a bit of kink in their reading, since Snow White engages in quite a few different fetishes and learns to love her naughty side in return for her safe keeping.
How long did it take you to write?
Not long at all, really. From brainstorming to final product, just a week or so. It’s a short story to start with, and I always seem to write fast when I write on this topic.
What inspired you to write this novel?
I wanted to find a way to please a lot of my readers in the S&M world with a little bit of a taste of several different scenarios. It’s almost a introduction of what the world can be like in the guide of a kinky fairy tale.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
When my former employer demanded higher hours when I returned from maternity leave, my wife and I made the decision that he was the priority, and decided to take my writing and go full time. I started out ghost writing erotica for a number of clients, when one finally turned to me and told me I needed to start getting my stories out there under my ‘own name’. The fact that one told me that they were earning 5 times what they paid me also made me seriously consider it.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
I do struggle a bit with descriptions, as in how far can I push the reader out of their comfort zone, and into a new world to explore. I always debate where to draw the line and keep things a bit on the mild side, and where to push it to the extreme.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
It just seemed to be the easiest option available to me.
Did you have a professional editor?
Nope.
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I always edit as I write. I’ve been told not to, as it can disrupt the flow, and it’s a habit I’m trying to break.
Are you currently working on any projects?
I do have a ghost-writing project that I’m working on, but I’m in the brainstorming stages of another book. It’s another fetish erotica piece.
Any advice for new authors?
I do encourage newbies to ghost-write for others. It’s a way to start building up a regular rate of income that you can live on while your own book is in its early stages.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
I don’t listen to music, but I do have the television on in the background. Usually either BBC news or Disney Junior.
Best time of day to write?
A.N. Roquelaure, Charlaine Harris, J. R. R. Tolkien
Top 3 novels of all time?
Story of O, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, The Silmarillion
Top 3 movies of all time?
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Rear Window , Eyes Wide Shut
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
Non-fiction – I like to read to learn, so whenever I can get my hands on a book covering a topic I don’t know all that much about but am interested in, I scoop it up.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Just ebook.
Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
http://rubygoodnight.com is my web site.
I’m also on facebook – http://facebook.com/rubygoodnight, and on Twitter as @RubyGoodnight.
I’m a 32 year old American, living and loving in the hills of England. I’m married to a lovely woman, and we have a 14 month old son. I work from home, writing content for web sites and ghost-writing for others when I’m not working on my own stories. I use Ruby Goodnight as a pen name, since my real one is much less exciting and not quite as Bond-worthy.
What is your book about?
My story is a spin of the classic Snow White story from our childhood, but in this case, rather than fleeing to a house of dwarves, she finds shelter in a fetish brothel. It’s not for those who don’t like a bit of kink in their reading, since Snow White engages in quite a few different fetishes and learns to love her naughty side in return for her safe keeping.
How long did it take you to write?
Not long at all, really. From brainstorming to final product, just a week or so. It’s a short story to start with, and I always seem to write fast when I write on this topic.
What inspired you to write this novel?
I wanted to find a way to please a lot of my readers in the S&M world with a little bit of a taste of several different scenarios. It’s almost a introduction of what the world can be like in the guide of a kinky fairy tale.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
When my former employer demanded higher hours when I returned from maternity leave, my wife and I made the decision that he was the priority, and decided to take my writing and go full time. I started out ghost writing erotica for a number of clients, when one finally turned to me and told me I needed to start getting my stories out there under my ‘own name’. The fact that one told me that they were earning 5 times what they paid me also made me seriously consider it.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
I do struggle a bit with descriptions, as in how far can I push the reader out of their comfort zone, and into a new world to explore. I always debate where to draw the line and keep things a bit on the mild side, and where to push it to the extreme.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
It just seemed to be the easiest option available to me.
Did you have a professional editor?
Nope.
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I always edit as I write. I’ve been told not to, as it can disrupt the flow, and it’s a habit I’m trying to break.
Are you currently working on any projects?
I do have a ghost-writing project that I’m working on, but I’m in the brainstorming stages of another book. It’s another fetish erotica piece.
Any advice for new authors?
I do encourage newbies to ghost-write for others. It’s a way to start building up a regular rate of income that you can live on while your own book is in its early stages.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
I don’t listen to music, but I do have the television on in the background. Usually either BBC news or Disney Junior.
Best time of day to write?
Late morning – right after my son goes down for his nap, and I still have a bit of a caffine buzz from my morning cup of coffee.
Top 3 authors?
Top 3 authors?
A.N. Roquelaure, Charlaine Harris, J. R. R. Tolkien
Top 3 novels of all time?
Story of O, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, The Silmarillion
Top 3 movies of all time?
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Rear Window , Eyes Wide Shut
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
Non-fiction – I like to read to learn, so whenever I can get my hands on a book covering a topic I don’t know all that much about but am interested in, I scoop it up.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Just ebook.
Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
http://rubygoodnight.com is my web site.
I’m also on facebook – http://facebook.com/rubygoodnight, and on Twitter as @RubyGoodnight.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Angel Wings - Song For Dad
I wrote this song with my brother for our late dad. We lost him in September last year and so we decided to compose this for him. It's a song about losing someone and coping with the grief, but also hopeful that the loved one is still near and death does not really part us.
Today would have been his 71st birthday.
Miss you Dad. xxx
Today would have been his 71st birthday.
Miss you Dad. xxx
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Author Interview - Stuart Millard
Please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Stuart Millard, I'm 32, British and live by the beach. That last part is only really notable to others who've grown up by the beach, and know they could never live anywhere else. The occupation field on my passport possibly reads 'Writer, Time Traveller, Jack the Ripper'
What is your book about?
Dirt Baby and Other Small Mercies is best pitched as “a strange little book of strange little stories,” covering such ground as suicidal snowmen, spectral traffickers smuggling ghosts for those who crave the social cache of a haunted home, and a pill that blocks the feelings of love. It's a mini-length, mini-priced collection in its own right, but also a perfect entry level piece into my other, longer work; the full-length Frantic Planet series, of similarly toned short fiction and novellas.
How long did it take you to write?
It's an odd one, in that I didn't set out to actively create this book. The stories that eventually became Dirt Baby all fell out of my brain-pan over the course of a year, while I was busy writing other stuff, and were essentially homeless word-hobos until this book came into being and gave them somewhere to set their bindles. Dirt Baby is comprised of random moments of inspiration. The stories that hit, every now and then, and wouldn't leave me alone until I'd sicked them out onto the page.
What inspired you to write this novel?
As is the nature of the anthology, various things. For instance, the clinically depressed snowman was inspired by a long, hard winter where the snow stayed around forever – long past the point of chocolate box magic – until it was dirty and lifeless underfoot. A little of the Dignitas suicide clinic debate must have snuck into my mind, pulling the two together.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I was 21 or 22, which always felt a little late, but once you hit your thirties and drop the notion that you were destined to be the enfant terrible of your chosen field, I guess it's not so late after all. I think if you knew me, always with a notepad in my pocket, and utterly consumed by writing, you'd assume I was one of those people who kept a journal as a teen and read pretentious literature throughout highschool, but I didn't hit upon which specific direction to point my creative aches until my twenties. But once I found writing, that was it, I was in until the grave.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
Focus is my main struggle. The next idea's always more interesting than what you're doing right now, and there are infinite next ideas prodding at my ribs while I'm trying to write the current one.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
I'm a control freak. Plus, going Indie allows you to put together these collections of weird little shorts that really have no place existing anywhere else, like a freakshow, or a home for unwanted children with a very specific hidden talent. Shorts in particular are an impossibly hard sell to a traditional publisher, especially stuff that's a little more esoteric, and self-pub gives me the freedom to do exactly what I want, like weaving a bunch of stories together or setting 300 word flash pieces up against 35,000 word novellas, with equal footing.
Did you have a professional editor?
Nope. So far, it's all me.
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I do edit as I'm going along, but once I hit the end, I'll take pass after pass after pass until I'm happy. Distance is a good thing too, if you can find a few weeks to put a little breathing space between drafts and see things with a fresh pair of eyes. For specific context, Frantic Planet: Volume II, all 115,000 words of it, went through eleven full drafts.
Are you currently working on any projects?
Always. Currently, I'm shipping a novel around the traditional way, working on another, entirely separate novel for the Kindle – the start of a new series – and adapting something from Volume II into a screenplay.
Any advice for new authors?
Write. Just write. Actually do it. Too many people get sweet on the idea of being able to refer to themselves as a writer, but aren't willing to put in the hours. Writing is a craft, and it takes a long, long time to hone that into anything remotely worth sharing. If you want the payoff, sit down in front of that blank page, and write, write, write. One of the side-effects of indie publishing's rise is the easy ability to upload any old garbage to the Kindle store, allowing anybody to swan around calling themselves a published author. Don't be that guy (or girl). It shouldn't be your goal to be an author, it should be your goal to be a fantastic one; the best, most original author you can be.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
I do, and it totally depends on what I'm writing at the time. The seventies-based novel I spent the last couple of years on had era-specific playlists, to get me in the mood. I think about my stories as if they were a movie, and listening to the kind of songs I imagine would be on the soundtrack helps things along sometimes, as far as visualising goes.
Best time of day to write?
I'm a total night writer. 6:pm – 1:30am is when I'm most productive.
Top 3 authors?
Charles Fort, H.P. Lovecraft, Mark Z. Danielewski.
Top 3 novels of all time?
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Dracula by Bram Stoker
It by Stephen King
Top 3 movies of all time?
Karate Kid, Ghostbusters and The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
I read way, way more non-fiction. I have a self-imposed ban on reading prose fiction if I'm writing my own, and over the past few years, I've been writing my own stuff constantly, so I've not got a lot of fiction reading done. I'm infinitely more of a movie nerd than a book nerd, anyway. My influences are all cinematic.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Frantic Planet: Volume I and II are both in paperback and on the Kindle store, while Dirt Baby is a Kindle exclusive. Although thanks to the heftier royalties on the Kindle version, I tend to act as though the paperbacks don't exist. If our books are our children, once the Kindle editions came along, I was the paperbacks' absent father.
Where can your readers contact you?
I'm a pretty regular blogger, over on http://franticplanet.
You can also find me on Twitter @franticplanet
Friday, December 16, 2011
Another Nightwish Masterpiece
Nightwish are known for their epic songs, and this one is no exception. Entitled Song of Myself, and inspired by the poem by Walt Whitman, it's taken from their latest album Imaginaerum.
It's one of those songs that you have to be in the mood for to really appreciate it's greatness I think. For me, Nightwish are the greatest band out there at the moment. And I love everything this Finnish band comes up with.
It's one of those songs that you have to be in the mood for to really appreciate it's greatness I think. For me, Nightwish are the greatest band out there at the moment. And I love everything this Finnish band comes up with.
Author Interview - Howard McEwen
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a 41 year old white, male living with an equally aged wife and two daughters in the little river city of Bellevue, Kentucky. By day I'm an investment advisor. By night, I write.
What is your book about?
Wrath - the life and assassination of a United States Governor is a fictional account of the life of William Goebel. Goebel remains the only sitting U.S. governor to be assassinated. Many felt Goebel deserved his bullet.
Chiefly, it's about how Goebel overcame several unique drawbacks to become governor. The chief drawback was that five years before his election he shot a fellow Democrat in broad daylight on a city street standing next to the attorney general of the state.
How long did it take you to write?
I wrote it over three years. I'm not very disciplined in my writing. Basically, when work gets slow and others abandoned the office for the golf course or bar or for home I would write.
What inspired you to write this novel?
I was meandering through the local public library when I came across a thin, blue volume called Goebel: the politics of wrath. It was a thirty plus year old biography of Goebel. I'd never heard of him but found a seat and read the book through. It's an amazing political/historical story. I'm a political and history junkie and was surprised I'd never heard of Goebel.
But what really inspired me is that in this biography the author almost skips past Goebel's murder of John Sanford in broad daylight standing next to the chief law enforcement office of the state and five years later is elected governor. That's high drama to me but to a historian, I guess, it's just another fact to be presented.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I don't think there ever was a decision. When I was in grade school I discovered that while I couldn't run well, do math well or flirt with girls well I could string together a bunch of words better than most. It was something I was good at and something I nurtured in myself.
It's become therapy now.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
I struggle with how much to write. I'm a sparse writer. I believe a reader is better able to imagine a scene than most writers can write it. However, you do need to give them something to build on. I struggle with what to leave in and what to leave out.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
The first was that I wanted to give a singular vision. If I was lucky enough to make it through the gauntlet of traditional publishing I'd have numerous people tell me what's wrong with the book. On a marketing side they may be right but it's not what I wanted.
Also, going the traditional route didn't make financial sense. I spent years writing a book then years trying to get it printed then a few weeks trying to sell it to the public for an average advance of a few thousand bucks seemed silly.
I have a buddy who is trying to sell a novel the traditional way. After hours of talking with him I realized he won't even consider self-publishing because he wants the pat on the head that comes with an agent and then publisher saying "we like you and your book". Luckily, I don't need that. So his book sits unread gathering electronic dust on his hard drive while mine has been read by many more.
Did you have a professional editor?
No. This is a work of love. Again it goes back to my wanting to have a singular vision for Wrath. However, I can see the merits. How could I not? Max Perkins, anyone?
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I edit as I write. I find that I have to do that to keep the same voice and tone throughout the novel. For example, I'll write a chapter on Saturday and be ready to go for another chapter on Sunday but to make them fit I have to read over and get back into the Saturday chapter before moving on.
After the book is completed I do more editing (re-writing). And more. And more. Then some more. I don't pick up Wrath and flip through it because I know whatever my eye lands on I'll think, that bit could be better.
Are you currently working on any projects?
Wrath was a pretty serious novel where I tried to delve deep into the psyche of some pretty dark people. I then wrote a novella about a self-absorbed father who destroys his family. I'm letting that one sit for a while before I release it.
For a change I'm writing a series of humorous cozy detective-ish stories. They are much lighter with (so far) plenty of humor. I'm getting too old to do the dark stuff anymore.
Any advice for new authors?
Write. Read. Read good stuff and read crap. You learn from both. Avoid the fads and styles that make up 95% of the 'literary' world. Read Hemingway's The End of Something once a year. Read it annually to learn and to give yourself a dose of humility. Don't read it more often because it will give you a dose of discouragement. Anyway, it's the best writing lesson I ever had. Read. Write.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
I can't listen to good music when I write because the music draws my thoughts away from the page. So, if I listen to anything, it's pop/rock. It's all crap that won't intrude on your thoughts.
Best time of day to write?
I write when I can. I don't have the luxury of being choosy.
Top 3 authors?
Hemingway for the grace
Edgar Rice Burroughs to keep the action moving…no matter what!
P.G. Wodehouse for dialogue, plotting, humor, action, and insight into the human soul.
Top 3 novels of all time?
The Magnificent Ambersons - for its focus
One Hundred Years of Solitude - for its scope
A Farewell to Arms - for its simple, clear writing and sentiment.
Top 3 movies of all time?
Ikiru
The Philadelphia Story
The African Queen
Also, the films of Paddy Cheyefsky get an honorable mention.
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
I read fiction growing up but then went through a period of intense study in my professional field. That lasted five years where I didn't read much (if any) fiction. When I came out of it I realized that fiction just couldn't or wouldn't hold my interest. Thankfully, I got back into fiction a few years ago.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Both! But an ebook saves trees and the fossil fuels it'd take to deliver the paper version!
Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
Author Interview - Ty Hutchinson
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Hawaii, which was pretty awesome. I spent the last twenty-two years in the advertising business, still in it by the way. It’s a fun way to make a living. I’ve been told I have no filter when I speak. I can agree with that. I love to travel and experience new cultures and the people that live there. I love eating and cooking but eating more. I like video games and music and reading and people watching. I like people who actually do things with their ideas. I like it when people aren’t afraid to put themselves out there and try something and then do it well. I like dogs, not so much cats.
What is your book about?
It’s about a salesman who sets out to become the first telecommunications consultant to the criminal underworld. Well, that’s what the Darby Stansfield thriller series is about. Each book is a different adventure. In STROGANOV, Darby is set on finding love, though he decides to do it in an unconventional way. Before he knows it, he’s caught up in sex trafficking war between the Ukrainian government and the Russian mob. Once again, Darby must untangle the mess without getting himself or anyone he knows killed. That’s the life of someone who consults with organized crime—always in the wrong place, at the wrong time, all of the time. The series has been liken to Tarantino meets The Office.
How long did it take you to write?
Probably five months stretched out over a year.
What inspired you to write this novel?
Well it’s the second book in the series. Not much inspiration was needed except I love the series and would like to keep it going for as long as possible.
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
Well, I’ve been a copywriter for over ten years, so writing is nothing new to me. Yeah, it’s different but there are a lot of similarities between copywriting and writing a book. I won’t bore you with them. Unless you’ve done the type of advertising I’ve done, you won’t understand. I decided to write a novel not long ago. I remember the time. It was the summer of 2009. I was on the set of a commercial I was making and having a conversation with the director. We were talking about side projects and other things we did, besides the day job. I had this idea about a consultant to the criminal underworld but didn’t quite know what to do with it. Should I turn it into screenplay? Maybe a book was better. I pitched him the idea and he laughed. He was probably the sixth person I told the idea to that responded favorly. That’s when I decided I was going to do something with it. It made complete sense to turn it into a book because it required less help from others and when I was done, it was done. Unlike writing a screenplay. When you finish the script, it’s still not done. Plus everything comes out of a book. So I started there.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
Probably description. It doesn’t come natural to me. Sometimes I’ll forget to describe the restaurant or a room. I guess part of it is because I don’t like overly descriptive books. I like just enough to keep the story going. I’m a minimalist.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
Well in advertising, that’s what we do. We make stuff. We make commercials, we make radio spots, we make web films, and we make print ads and brochures. So coming up with an idea, flushing it out and seeing it through the production process is something I’ve always done. Once I realized I had the option to self-published. I immediately went this route and never gave the traditional route any thought.
Did you have a professional editor?
Ah, yes.
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I tend to get the story down first and then edit later. It’s how I’ve always worked. Get the idea flushed out and then work on polishing it.
Are you currently working on any projects?
When I first started writing books, I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t understand why so many authors would start another book before finishing one or how they could have two or three in the works. Well, now I understand. A novel has various stages that require different commitments of time and energy from the author. So what I try to do is have a book at every stage. I have one in the outlining/research stage. I have another in the draft stage. And yet another in the production stage. It’s a way of keeping this very long pipeline full of work. Plus authors are always coming up with new ideas for books that they can’t wait to start, so they do. So yes, I have about three books that I’m working on.
Any advice for new authors?
Finish that first book. Don’t be afraid to have people read it. Now is the time to know if something about it sucks or doesn’t make people interested. It’s only words and you can fix it. Everything is fixable. If they didn’t laugh in one scene. Well, you go back to it and think of a funnier joke or situation. If they didn’t get the twist, go back and fix it. I think too many writers either let fear or their ego prevent them from making their book better before publishing.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
Sometimes. I listen to all types. Lately it’s what I see others listening to on Spotify.
Best time of day to write?
For me, it’s the mornings.
Top 3 authors?
James Patterson. Peter Mayle. Terry Brooks.
Top 3 novels of all time?
The Sword of Shannara. A Year in Provence. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Top 3 movies of all time?
Goodfellas. Star Wars. Wizard of Oz.
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
I read more fiction now because it’s what I write.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
STROGANOV will be out soon. CHOP SUEY, the first book in the series is out now. It’s available in both print and ebook. It's available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. Now get your wallet out.
Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Author Interview - Elisabeth Grace Foley
Please tell us a little about yourself.
Well, I’m 21 years old and the eldest of four children. I live at home with my family in the Northeast U.S. I’m a homeschool graduate who chose not to attend college in favor of self-education, which has been and continues to be a rewarding experience. I’m an avid reader and a lifelong history buff, which pretty much explains why I write historical fiction!
What is your book about?
It’s a collection of seven Western short stories. Rather than entirely following the traditional Western patterns of action and adventure (though of course there is some of that, too!), these stories are more character-driven, centering around people facing conflict, decisions or surprises. “Disturbing the Peace,” is about a sheriff who experiences a revelation about himself and his relationship with the people of his town, and in “Cross My Heart” a boy is torn between betraying his conscience or a fugitive friend. “A Rangeland Renaissance,” on the other hand, is pure comedy, while the title story, “The Ranch Next Door,” is a Western twist on star-crossed romance, as a cattleman’s son falls in love with the daughter of a sheep rancher despite the old feud between their families. I hope they’ll appeal to a broad range of readers as well as established Western fans.
How long did it take you to write?
A year and a half all told, but I didn’t work on it straight through that time—the stories were written in between and during other projects.
What inspired you to write it?
Well, I’d been writing Western stories for a while. When I had enough that I felt were ready to go, I decided to go ahead and publish a collection of them. Inspiration for short stories comes from all over. The title of “The Ranch Next Door” was inspired by that of a “lost” song by noted Western songwriter Bob Nolan (author of standards like “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” and “Cool Water”)—“lost” because it was registered for copyright, but no lyrics or sheet music have survived. With no idea what the original song was about, I fell to imagining what kind of story would go with that title, and had one written before I knew it!
When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing something or other ever since I learned how. My mother still has my first efforts, books made from sheets of drawing paper stapled together and illustrated by the author. I daydreamed about getting published off and on over the years, but it’s been in the last two or three that I really began to get serious about my writing.
What part of writing do you struggle with? Character, plot, description or dialogue?
Plot can be tricky—that’s probably the element I’d say I’m still in the process of learning as I go along. Description can take a little effort too; I often end up tweaking and polishing it until I feel readers will get the mental picture I want them to have.
What made you decide on self-publishing?
The more I learned about it, the more I liked it as a way of doing business. I liked the aspect of artistic control over my work, and the higher royalties and ability to manage the business end myself made so much sense.
Did you have a professional editor?
No.
Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?
I write my first drafts longhand, and don’t change much as I go along, but I scribble notes about possible changes or alternate takes on certain sentences in the margins for future reference. Then I type it out and edit lightly as I go along. Usually I don’t type a draft until I finish the whole story, but sometimes if I get really stuck it can help to start typing the beginning and work up as far as I’ve got—it gives a little extra impetus. Any major edits come after I’ve read it on paper and had a few other people read it.
Are you currently working on any projects?
Well, I just finished the first draft of a short murder mystery in a Western setting, which I did for a National Novel Writing Month challenge. I have some completed projects that I want to work on getting edited and published after the holidays—one is a series of Western short stories built around a recurring central character; another is a short comedy novel in a historical/Western setting.
Any advice for new authors?
I really think the best way to learn how to write is to read. Read good books, observe what works and what doesn’t. Everyone develops their own style, but there is so much you can learn from other authors. I think reading good books can also give you a sense of when your own writing is ready—it will probably take some practice before you produce something you feel is ready to publish.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what type of music?
No, not while I’m writing. I love music, but I like to be able to pay attention and enjoy it, which I can’t do while my mind is on writing—and vice versa.
Best time of day to write?
I prefer to work in the mornings if I can. My brain seems clearer and more focused then. Awkwardly enough, though, I get some of my best ideas late at night!
Top 3 authors?
O. Henry, B.M. Bower and Agatha Christie
Top 3 novels of all time?
Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley
Tiger Eye by B.M. Bower
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Top 3 movies of all time?
The Sound of Music
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
What do you read the most? Fiction or non-fiction?
The large majority is fiction. But I do enjoy some historical nonfiction.
Is your book in Print, ebook or both?
Only ebook as of now.
Where can your readers contact you? Links, etc.
My blog is at http://www.thesecondsentence.
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